Russia's Northern Fleet Is In The English Channel

Russian anti-submarine ship Severomorsk.Wiki commonsA squadron of ships from Russia's Northern Fleet is currently conducting drills in the English Channel, according to Russian media.

The squadron, lead by the Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and including the Alexander Otrakovsky amphibious ship and a tanker, are conducting exercises such as assisting a vessel in distress, communication training and transferring fuel in international waters. The ships are crewed by a total of 250 Russian marines.

"Today, a squadron of ships and support vessels from the Northern Fleet have passed the narrowest part of the English Channel in the Strait of Dover and have entered a bay near the mouth of the Seine River."

The Russian military has stepped up activity in recent months with a greater number of naval drills and NATO reports of incursions by Russian fighter jets and bombers. It comes as the country's economy continues to suffer under international sanctions imposed by the West over allegations that Russia has been providing troops and military equipment to pro-Moscow rebels in the east of Ukraine.